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Gary S. Lovell
Gary S. Lovell

Gary S. Lovell, 74, passed away on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 after a long convalescent stay at St. Mary’s Care Center in Madison, WI.

An only child, Gary was born on March 12, 1946 in Monroe, WI, to Kenneth and Wilma Lovell. He went to East School, Jr. High School and finally Monroe High School, graduating in the class of 1964. He was confirmed as a Lutheran.

He then attended Platteville State University earning a degree in Psychology with a minor in Art. He was a member of the QEX fraternity Phi Sigma Chi.

He was then drafted into the U.S. Army stationed in South Carolina. After finishing his advanced infantry training, he joined the National Guard in Madison, the 826th Ordinance Co.

He then started his lifelong career in commercial painting with Coplien Painting in Monroe, then he painted for A & D Painting in Browntown. He formed a partnership called Lafayette Painting which only lasted for a season or two. Finally, he started his own company, “Lovell Painting,” which covered Green and Lafayette counties.

He met and married Rita Bach from Switzerland. She worked as a cocktail waitress/bartender downstairs at the Swiss Colony Inn on the square. She also waitressed at the New Glarus Hotel. She was an excellent interpreter for German and Swiss tourists.

Unfortunately, they parted ways after a small number of years. He then moved to Madison and joined the Painters Local Union spending most of his time painting at the U.W. Hospital.

A stroke and heart attack in 2016 paralyzed him on the left side of his body which necessitated a move to St. Mary’s Care Center for five years where he succumbed to his infirmity.

He had no surviving family members.

Gary loved sports – Badger and Packer football, along with hockey, tennis and golf. He loved to swim, dive and scuba diving. Though he pheasant hunted along with grouse etc., fishing was his favorite; fresh and salt water.

When his seasonal occupation ended in the fall, he usually headed to Florida, Costa Rica a couple times. He also loved to read books and listen to music, along with card games, chess, and cribbage. Even though he wouldn’t admit it, he was a pretty good painter on canvas too.

He had an Irish Setter called “Strider” and an Australian Hound later, called “Bubi” and a black cat named “Miss Kitty.”

His first residence was outside Argyle on Puddle Dock Rd and later he moved just outside Gratiot.

Gary had several good friends in the Monroe area and outside. He will be sadly missed by all of them.

The first love of his life was Gayle Varga from Detroit, MI. They lived on Puddle Dock Rd., Argyle.